DAMASCUS (Al Jazeera) – A car bomb explosion has rocked Damascus, a rare incident in recent years as the Syrian capital has been largely spared the violence that happens in other parts of the country.

Sunday night’s blast in the affluent suburb of Mezze caused no casualties, according to police sources quoted by the official Syrian news agency, SANA. Initial reports said loud explosions had been heard in Mezze and plumes of smoke were seen rising from the vicinity of the military airport there. According to police sources, an explosive device in a civilian vehicle was detonated, bursting into flames that spread to two vehicles parked nearby.

Witnesses said the blast was near a popular restaurant and a busy roundabout.